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I have a 2002 9-3SE with auto and premium and heated seats. Overall, I'm fairly happy about the car, although I do not think I will keep it when my lease expires. I want something a bit roomier, with more cargo capacity, and a smoother ride.
This is my first Saab, so I cannot comment on its reliability relative to other Saabs. I have not had any major problems with the car. I have had minor creaks, rattles, squeaks, misaligned headliner, dead SID, leaking coolant items--all not a problem to me since I expected some of these things.
The hatch is helpful for some items but not as functional as I thought. I've had a few instances when the hatch failed to swallow boxes of flat packed furniture or toys; however, these items were able to fit into a friend's 9-5 sedan trunk. The hatch does come in handy when you have lots of smaller items. I have been succesful in loading the hatch with a bunch of stuff, but that required some creativity. I certainly don't think a sedan would have worked as well. Then again, a small SUV or wagon may have done the job easier.
The ride leaves a bit to be desired. Sometimes, I sit in the back seats and allow friends to drive the car so that I can experience the ride. It's a bit rough in the back. The car's suspension doesn't seem to absorb road imperfections that well. At times, I felt the ride was a bit jarring. Usually, a tighter ride will result in better handling, but I do not think this is the case with the 9-3.
The turbo engine is tons of fun. That's the one thing that would make me reconsider other cars. I get a real kick from the passing power and the car's ability to reach higher speeds quickly. It's nice when merging on the freeways in L.A.
I may not be as bullish as most Saabers on this car. I've been spending quite a bit of time in a friend's 325i. The sticker price on my car was roughly $32,000. The sticker on my friend's BMW was about $35,000 almost equally equipped but with less functionality compared to the 9-3. The cap cost on my car was about $28,000, and my friend's 325i's cap cost was about $31,000. The Saab does cost less and offers more functionality. But that 325's ride is amazing. Given the cars are in similar price points, the BMW's road feel, handling, and smoothness are worlds apart from the 9-3. The engine does get up to speed, but without the excitement the 9-3 presents.
If you'd like to discuss further (may be hard given how much I've written), feel free to email me.
posted by 4.33.248...
, Sat, 31 Jul 2004 16:42:15, Fri, 30 Jul 2004 17:44:44
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